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Year 7

The impact of the Norman Conquest on England

I can draw on a range of sources to explain how historians know about the impact of the Norman Conquest on England.

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Year 7

The impact of the Norman Conquest on England

I can draw on a range of sources to explain how historians know about the impact of the Norman Conquest on England.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Historians draw on a range of sources to study the impact of the Norman Conquest.
  2. These sources offer different evidence depending on the questions historians ask.
  3. The sources sometimes corroborate one another.
  4. The sources sometimes contradict one another.

Keywords

  • Source - something that remains from the past of which historians ask questions

  • Evidence - information gathered by historians when asking questions of sources, that they then use to support their arguments

Common misconception

Pupils may consider sources to be inherently useful or not useful and make statements about bias.

Remind pupils that all sources are useful for investigating something, and that the questions we ask of them are important in this process.


To help you plan your year 7 history lesson on: The impact of the Norman Conquest on England, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Try to focus pupils' writing on what can be established out from the source base, rather than what cannot. Some pupils may wish to comment on the certainty of various claims that have been made from the source base.
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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which one of these is not a way in which the Gesta Guillelmi seeks to justify or strengthen William’s claim to the throne?
It states that Edward promised William the throne.
It states that Harold promised to support William’s claim.
It states that Harold was a treacherous liar who broke his promises.
Correct answer: It states that William often had to fight wars against other Norman lords.
Q2.
Which one of the following best explains why historians think carefully about the claims reported in the Gesta Guillelmi?
It was written by someone who knew William of Normandy very well.
William of Poitiers was a priest, not a trained historian.
Correct answer: It was written to set out reasons why William’s claim was the strongest.
It was written soon after the events of the succession crisis.
Q3.
Some of the events shown in the Bayeux Tapestry are corroborated by other sources, such as the Gesta Guillemi. Which one of the following is the best definition of ‘corroborated’?
Correct answer: supported
proved to be wrong
corrected
explained
contradicted
Q4.
The Normans replaced Anglo-Saxon churches and cathedrals with buildings in a style known as __________.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Romanesque
Arabesque
Gothic
Classical
Q5.
Which of these facts about Totnes castle are true?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Totnes town already had strong fortifications before the Norman Conquest.
Correct answer: Totnes castle was built following rebellions in the south west in 1068.
Correct answer: The motte of Totnes castle is 17.5 metres high.
The first castle at Totnes had stone walls rather than a wooden fence.
Q6.
Which of the following can historians work out from studying the Domesday Book?
How Anglo-Saxons felt about being ruled by Normans.
Correct answer: How much land William held personally as king.
Correct answer: How much land was taken from Anglo-Saxons and granted to Normans.
Correct answer: How the Norman Conquest changed how much land was worth.
Q4 "Winchester Cathedral, Interior, Hampshire" by JackPeasePhotography is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Q5 "Totnes Castle" by Phil Gayton is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Pick the phrase that correctly completes this sentence: Historians draw on __________ to understand the impact of the Norman Conquest on England.
a piece of paper
Correct answer: a range of sources
only completely reliable source
written sources, rather than visual or material sources,
Q2.
When writing about how historians have used sources, which of these would be things to discuss and consider?
How attractive or artistic the historians find the sources to be.
How popular the sources are in terms of search engine rankings.
Correct answer: The questions the historians have asked of the sources.
Correct answer: The things about the sources that the historians have paid careful attention to.
Q3.
Match these terms about sources to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:precise,accurate and exact in its details
tick

accurate and exact in its details

Correct Answer:range,a varied selection, a number of different things
tick

a varied selection, a number of different things

Correct Answer:claim,a statement or assertion that requires evidence to back it u
tick

a statement or assertion that requires evidence to back it u

Correct Answer:visual,using images, visuals
tick

using images, visuals

Correct Answer:partial,not complete
tick

not complete

Correct Answer:assertion,a confident statement or declaration
tick

a confident statement or declaration

Q4.
Which of these sentences draw on a precise detail from this source?
An image in a quiz
The Bayeux Tapestry was commissioned by Odo, William of Normandy's half-brother.
The Bayeux Tapestry was probably sewn by English women in Canterbury.
This scene shows a king being crowned.
Correct answer: This scene uses the term 'rex' to describe Harold - King Harold.
Q5.
The Bayeux Tapestry calls Harold 'King Harold' but the Gesta Guillelmi does not. Which of these would be good historical questions to ask about that?
Correct answer: Were Anglo-Saxons who supported Harold involved in making the Bayeux Tapestry?
Was there ever really a man called Harold Godwinson?
Correct answer: How reliable is William of Poiters as a historical chronicler?
Is the Bayeux Tapestry actually a modern fake?
Q6.
Put these event from the Norman Conquest in chronological order.
1 - Edward the Confessor dies.
2 - Harold Godwinson is crowned king.
3 - King Harold wins the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
4 - William of Normandy wins the Battle of Hastings.
5 - The Harrying of the North.
6 - The Domesday Book is completed.
7 - William the Conqueror dies.
Q4 "Bayeux Tapestry, Scenes 29-31" by ancientartpodcast.org is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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